Islamic Jihad militant group says Israel has warned top leaders against trying to enter Gaza

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip – Members of Iranian-backed Islamic Jihad say Israel has warned the militant group's two top leaders against trying to enter the Gaza Strip this week.

The pair had planned to visit Friday, along with the leader-in-exile of Hamas, Islamic Jihad's sister group.

Israel and Gaza's ruling Hamas have been holding indirect talks, through Egypt, following an Israeli offensive on militant targets in Gaza last month.

Two Islamic Jihad members said Thursday that Egypt had relayed warnings that Israel would consider the Gaza truce over if the group's leaders enter Gaza. They spoke spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to discuss the issue with the media.